GamesActionIndiana Jones and the Great CircleThe key to Indiana Jones' future in video games may be in a forgotten James Bond title from 16 years agoWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
GamesActionIndiana Jones and the Great CircleThe key to Indiana Jones' future in video games may be in a forgotten James Bond title from 16 years agoWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Xbox Game Studios)
At the latest Xbox Developer Direct showcase, Bethesda unveiledIndiana Jones and the Great Circlegameplay for the first time. Slated to be released exclusively for PC andXbox Series Xand S at some point this year, fans were divided when they learned that the majority of the gameplay will revolve around a first-person perspective, a first in the gaming history of the iconic action-adventure franchise – the last game adaptation of the esteemed franchise being 2011’s Indiana Jones Adventure World. And although this early trepidation is understandable, an overlooked James Bond game used this approach with effective results that may set the template for The Great Circle.
The gameplay trailer for Indiana Jones and the Great Circle shows a hybridized perspective for the player. Though the game predominantly is first-person, there are moments when the perspective shifts to third-person, specifically in certain instances when Indy interacts directly with the environment and at presumably scripted moments to add a cinematic flair to the proceedings. This mixed perspective approach echoes 2008’s 007: Quantum of Solace,Activision’s first James Bond game, adapting the first two Daniel Craig-starring films Quantum of Solace and Casino Royale.
Taking solace
(Image credit: Activision)
INDIANA JONESING(Image credit: MachineGames)Indiana Jones and the Great Circle looks like the best series adaptation since Temple of Doom on the Atari ST over 30 years ago
INDIANA JONESING
(Image credit: MachineGames)Indiana Jones and the Great Circle looks like the best series adaptation since Temple of Doom on the Atari ST over 30 years ago
(Image credit: MachineGames)
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle looks like the best series adaptation since Temple of Doom on the Atari ST over 30 years ago
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, at least given the gameplay footage revealed so far, appears to lean more heavily into first-person than Quantum of Solace, though the similarities are there. Hand-to-hand combat is still done in first-person, and many of the mechanics surrounding Indy’s iconic whip are the game. Given developer MachineGames' past projects, including revamping the Wolfenstein franchise starting with 2014’s Wolfenstein: The New Order, this is to be expected to a degree.
At the same time, as with Quantum of Solace, MachineGames understands that players want to see Indiana Jones in action, just like James Bond. These occasional shifts in perspective and ensuring the player sees things like Indy’s iconic silhouette and figure, fall within the film series' most memorable shots and are welcome changes. However, in drawing from their own creative strengths, MachineGames keeping the game first-person not only offers a more immersive experience but also stays within their programming comfort zone. And given past Indiana Jones games' third-person experiences, this change in perspective may be for the best.
(Image credit: Xbox Game Studios)
“Quantum of Solace, sorely underrated among the pantheon of James Bond games, shows how a dual perspective, especially one for an iconic licensed property can work”
“Quantum of Solace, sorely underrated among the pantheon of James Bond games, shows how a dual perspective, especially one for an iconic licensed property can work”
Something that may be lost in the passage of time is that the third-person Indiana Jones games haven’t aged all that well, and weren’t glowingly received at the time of their original release. The first game to make this change in perspective was 1999’s Indiana Jones and the Infernal Machine, which was lambasted for its control scheme and in-game camera. 2003’s Indiana Jones and the Emperor’s Tomb earned an improved reception, but criticism about its camera layout persisted. Simply put, even the most prominent third-person Indiana Jones games don’t hold up as well as the franchise’s point-and-click and 2D side-scrollers do.
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1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
1
Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
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Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
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1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
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Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”
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Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”
3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
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4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
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The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
5
Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
1Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”
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1
Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”
2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
2
Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
3
Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
4
Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
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5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”
5
Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”